Sheet handling apparatus



May 20, 1969 s. T. STOOTHOFF SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 13, 1967 INVENTOR STANLEY T. STOOTHOFF mowers United States Patent 3,445,107 SHEET HANDLING APPARATUS Stanley T. Stoothoff, Glen Rock, N.J., assignor to Miehle- Goss-Dexter, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 13, 1967, Ser. No. 653,230 Int. Cl. B65h 31/04, 31/12, 29/68 US. Cl. 27187 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for stacking sheets, signatures or the like on their edges including means to feed, stack and support the same, and oscillating means positioned at the input or trailing end of the stack to move the expanding stack intermittently against a resisting force supporting the forward or leading end of the stack.

This invention relates to sheet handling apparatus for feeding, stacking and supporting sheets, signatures and the like on edge on a receiving or delivery means.

The present invention is a further improvement in appa ratus of the type disclosed in applicants US. Patent No. 3,258,264 entitled Sheet Handling Apparatus which issued on June 28, 1966.

That patent describes an apparatus for feeding and stacking sheets on edge and included means for delivering said sheets to a supporting base into registry .with previously stacked sheets and for moving the stack against a resistance means by means of an endless beltmounted on a pair of eccentric pulleys for movement in an eccentric path. It was found that the efficiency and effectiveness of this apparatus could be improved by the use of novel means for stabilizing the stacking and stack moving means and amplifying the effect thereof. Also any tendency of the belt to bow and thereby cause a reduction in the efficiency and quality of the stacking is eliminated by said novel means.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel device for stacking folded or unfolded sheets and for supporting the same during the stacking process in substantially fiat on-edge position.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for moving a stack of sheets on edge while feeding sheets to the stack.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel apparatus for continuously and consecutively stacking sheets, signatures and the like on edge.

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference for this latter purpose being had primarily to the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of one form of apparatus embodying the invention, the view being taken substantially on line 11 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a partial elevation view, with parts broken away, of the apparatus as viewed from the right in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale detail view, partly in section and with the feed belt shown in phantom, of a portion of the eccentric pulley mechanism.

Referring to the drawings there is shown sheet feeding and stacking apparatus which may comprise the same feed and drive mechanism described in the abovementioned patent including endless feed tapes 10, 11 adapted to carry fiat or folded sheets therebetween t0 the stacking apparatus. The tapes are driven over a pair of rollers 12 and 13 each supported in a frame comprising side plates 30 and 31. Sheets 14 are fed downwardly by the tapes and are stacked on supporting platform 15. The latter may be supported for vertical adjustment on frame plates 30 and 31 and comprises side plates 21 and 22 which are held in spaced relationship by bars 23, 24 and 25. Prop plate is slidably mounted on rails 28 which extend between bars 24 and 25 for propping the forward end of the stack of sheets (FIG. 1). The prop plate is frictionally connected to rails 28 by means of a cross plate 27 and spring loaded nuts and bolts 29. A pair of feed belts 32 are mounted over upper and lower pulleys 33, 34 eccentrically mounted relative to their axes of rotation. Each upper pulley 33 is secured to shaft 35 by a lock screw 35a, (FIG. 3) and the shaft has its end portions mounted in suitable bearings in mounting plates 30, 31. Each pulley 34 is similarly eccentrically mounted on and secured to a shaft 36 which has its ends mounted in suitable bearings in plates 30 and 31 directly below shaft 35. The belts 32 are thus mounted in a substantially vertical position. Because they extend over eccentrically mounted pulleys 33 and 34 they are moved linearly over the pulleys and simultaneously bodily in an eccentric path upon rotation of shafts 35 and 36. The shaft 35 is driven externally by belt 37, and shaft 36 is driven from shaft 35 by means of timing belt 38, both being driven at the same speed. The foregoing structure is described in further detail in Patent No. 3,258,264 above mentioned.

In addition to the foregoing, there is shown in the drawings adjacent each belt 32 a unit generally designated as 40, (FIG. 2) comprising an elongated, two-sided, angular member of generally L-shaped configuration, one side thereof being a plate member 42 shown as engaging the operative vertical reach of belt 32. The other side of L- shaped member is an elongated flange extension member 44 having extremities which extend vertically beyond the extremities of side 42 and contain a pair of apertures or holes 46 and 47 for mounting of the unit 40 on eccentric pulleys 33 and 34. The mounting, as shown in FIG. 3, can be done in joumal-like fashion in conjunction with a pair of flanged bushings 48 and 49, each of the said bushings in turn being mounted on axial extensions 50 and 51 of pulleys 33 and 34.

A pair of substantially rectangularly-shaped members 55 and 56 may be mounted as shown in cantilever fashion on plate side 44 near the extremities thereof in proximity to pulleys 33 and 34 by means of stud bolts 57. Members 55 and 56 have protruding portions 60 and 61 each extending in a direction towards the adjacent pulley member and in juxtaposition thereto to limit axial movement of plate unit 40 and assure its retention with respect to the pulley members when both pulleys and plate unit are in operation. Hence, it can be seen from the foregoing that plate 42 of unit 40 will remain in contact with belt 32 as it moves linearly past said plate and that both the belt and the member 40 will, by virtue of their eccentric mounting, follow the same eccentric path as a unit. Thus, rigid plate 42 reinforces and amplifies the stacking and compressive action of the eccentric movement of the belt and plate against the stack 16 of sheets 14 and also supports the vertical reach of the belt adjacent the stack thus eliminating the chances for the belt to bow or sag. Thus, feeding of the sheets downwardly into stacked position is facilitated and the quality of the stack is improved.

In operation, the sheets 14 are fed through belts 10 and 11 into a generally down-wardly extending path toward the support rails 28 and between the prop plate 20 or the stack 16 of previously fed sheets and the feed belts 32. As described above, the feed belts 32 and associated backup plates 42 move in an eccentric path toward and away from the prop plate 20 and starting their approach toward the prop plate. As each sheet is fed from between tapes and 11, it is engaged by the downwardly and forwardly moving belts 32 which drive the sheet downwardly until its lower edge contacts the rails 28. The sheets are moved against the previously stacked sheets and compressed against the prop plate 20 by the fore and aft oscillatory movement of belts 32 and plates 42 relative to stack 16, which movement results from the eccentric motion imparted thereto by the eccentric pulleys 33 and 34. The rigid backing of the plate 42 maintains the belt in relatively straight alignment and prevents bowing or sagging thereof. Since it is journalled on the eccentric pulleys 33 and 34, its path corresponds to the bodily movement of the belt and, hence, reinforces the stacking and compressive action of the same. After compressing and moving the stack and supporting rop 20 toward the right the belts 32 and backing plates 42 move in a direction away from the plate 20 thus relieving the pressure and providing a clearance for receipt of the next successively fed sheet. The belt and plate may, if desired, be caused to reciprocate several times during the entry and stacking of each sheet. The amount of tension on the nut and bolt 29 is adjusted to permit the plate 20 to yield slightly under the pressure of the advancing belts 32 and backing plates 42 but at the same time to permit a compression of the stack of sheets between the backed belts 32 and the prop plate 20 when the former engages the stack.

While there has been disclosed a specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this is a preferred form merely exemplary of the principles of the invention, and that the invention may be constructed in a variety of modifications and arrangements without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof. For example, members 40 may be joined between belts 32 for direct engagement with stack 16. Also, the central portions of flange members 44 may be removed. Member 40 may be constructed of any suitable material depending upon the degree of rigidity desired or required. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited by the specific structure disclosed but only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Sheet handling apparatus comprising means for supporting a stack of sheets on edge, means to feed sheets successively toward said supporting means, stacking means to engage said sheets and move the same into engagement with said supporting means and to move said sheets compressively against the previously stacked sheets, said stacking means comprising a pair of pulleys each of which is eccentrically mounted relative to its axis of rotation and an endless belt mounted over said pulleys, and secondary means to reinforce said stacking means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said secondary means is mounted for eccentric movement in unison with that of said stacking means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said secondary means comprises a plate member and a flange extension member forming a generally L-shaped configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said plate member is positioned adjacent said belt to support the same and said flange extension member is mounted to said pulleys.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 which includes means for limiting axial movement of said secondary means.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pair of pulleys, means for driving said pulleys and an endless belt mounted on said pulleys, each of said pulleys being eccentrically mounted relative to its axis of rotation to move said belt in an eccentric path and means for sup- 4 porting said belt mounted eccentrically to correspond in movement with said movement of said belt.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said supporting means comprises a plate member having a flange member forming a generally L-shaped configuration, said plate member positioned adjacent said belt and said flange member connected to said pulleys.

8. Sheet stacking apparatus comprising means for supporting a stack of sheets on edge for movement endwise of the stack, means for feeding sheets edgewise into registry and engagement with the trailing end of said stack, means at the leading end of said stack for holding the sheets at said leading end in an on-edge position and for yieldably resisting movement of the stack in a forward direction without exerting a positive force tending to move the stack in a rearward direction, friction means constituting the sole means for resisting movement of said holding means in said forward and rearward directions, and actuating means for intermittently moving said stack and said holding means in said forward direction along said stack supporting means as sheets are fed to the trailing end of the stack by said sheet-feeding means, and means to stabilize said actuating means and move in said forward direction.

9. Sheet stacking apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said actuating means comprises a pair of pulleys, means for driving at least one of said pulleys and an endless belt mounted on said pulleys, each of said pulleys being mounted eccentrically relative to its axis of rotation to move said belt into and out of engagement with the trailing end of said stack to thereby move the latter forwardly as sheets are fed to the trailing end of the stack.

10. Sheet and signature stacking apparatus comprising means for supporting a stack of sheets on edge for movement endwise of the stack, means for feeding sheets edgewise into registry and engagement with the trailing end of said stack, means at the leading end of said stack for holding the sheets at said leading end in one-edge position and for yieldably resisting movement of the stack in a forward direction, and actuating means for intermittently moving said stack and said holding means in said forward direction along said stack supporting means as sheets are fed to the trailing end of the stack, the said actuating means comprising a pair of pulleys, means for driving said pulleys about their axes, an endless belt mounted over said pulleys and having one reach thereof extending in a generally vertical direction adjacent the trailing end of the stack, said pulleys being mounted eccentrically relative to their axes of rotation to move said belt into and out of engagement with the trailing end of said stack and thereby move the stack forwardly as additional sheets are fed to the stack, and belt back-up support means for the vertically extending reach of the belts connected to said pulleys and actuated thereby to undergo movement with said reach of the belt toward and away from the stack to prevent bowing of the belt away from the stack.

11. Sheet and signature stacking apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said belt back-up support means comprises a relatively rigid structural member journalled on said pulleys coaxially therewith and having a side thereof in continuous planar contact with said reach of the belt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,258,264 6/1966 Stoothoif 271-68 EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

